ABSTRACT
Macmillan's political bonus from the marriage was the opportunity to win the former Liberal seat of Stockton-on-Tees. Macmillan's awkwardness, earnestness and somewhat clumsy speechmaking were more obviously in evidence than the intense hard work he constantly put in to make himself an authority on Britain's economic problems. The upward gradient was firmly set, only the Conservatives lost the general election, and Macmillan lost Stockton. When, next day, Eden set up a special committee of the cabinet, the Suez Committee, Macmillan was a member of it, as he remained right through to the end. Macmillan was thus the first to argue that Britain must accede to American demands, withdrawing unconditionally and giving place to a United Nations force. Macmillan was principal aider and abettor in the Suez folly, but the fundamental responsibility lay with Eden, who had overruled his Foreign Secretary and his Foreign Office advisers.
